National Skills Universities

17 Nov, 2022

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has initiated the process of establishment of National Skills Universities. The universities are envisioned to provide nationally recognised university degrees and certification for vocational skills, design and conduct assessment procedures, design vocational curriculum (with SSCs) customised to providing horizontal academic mobility, offer faculty training courses and conduct research in the skills landscape. A working group was created on 31st March, 2015, for developing an appropriate university model, providing broad recommendations and drafting the legislation for the National Skills University.

The draft Bill on establishment of National Skills Universities, its Approach Paper and the Report of the Working Group have been prepared and are currently undergoing internal review before being sent to the Cabinet. Recognising the need and urgency of quickly coordinating the efforts of all concerned stakeholders, to achieve its vision of a ‘Skilled India’ the Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was created on 31st July, 2014 which was later made into a full fledged Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship on 9th November, 2014.

National Skill Development Agency (NSDA), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), National Skill Development Fund (NSDF) and 33 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) were brought under the Ministry of Skill Development. The thrust of the Ministry is the co-ordination of all skill development efforts across the country, removal of disconnect between demand and supply of skilled manpower, building of new skills and skill upgradation, and encouraging entrepreneurship. Overall approximately 58,72,800 people were trained by Central Ministries/Departments in the financial year 2014-15.

For wider expansion of the skill development programme, MANAS (Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills) has been established under National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) to upgrade skills of minority youths and place them within India and overseas on November 10, 2014. MANAS has also signed an MoU with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Sector Skill Councils of Health, Security, Leather, Logistics and Media & Entertainment. A Regional office was opened at Chennai recently. More regional offices are likely to be opened in Mumbai, Kolkata and Guwahati.